Why do we fast?

Fasting is a “consecration”; a setting yourself aside for God. Consecration is what you do today, for God to do amazing things that He has promised tomorrow: in you, through you, and for you.

Like Joshua, who one day stood at the banks of the Jordan looking across at the land he had longed for and looked for again for over 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. Now it was time to cross over. They didn’t have a bridge – they needed a miracle. “So Joshua said to the people: Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things amongst you.” (Joshua 3v5)

If you are standing on the banks of something “new” that you have longed for, then consecrate yourself with us this week.

Fasting is not a duty, but a DESIRE. A desire for more than we have. A desire that says: This world is not enough. A desire that expresses a spiritual hunger and thirst that cannot be satisfied with anything or anyone is this world.

By the way: Personally, I don’t think that fasting should be seen as something to do only when you want to/need to add some muscle to getting a prayer answered. I don’t think fasting is something we add to prayer when prayer alone doesn’t seem to be enough. When Jesus’ disciples couldn’t cast out a deaf and dumb spirit, and they asked Him why they couldn’t but He could, He answered: “This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17). But did Jesus go away and fast before He prayed for her? No, not right there. But it seems that He had a discipline of fasting and prayer. He demonstrated a desire and delight in the Father, that drew Him as the Son of Man to seek out God the Father in prayer and fasting. Fasting is more a spiritual disciple aiding a desire, rather than being something to add to prayer when prayer alone doesn’t seem to work.